Lee Hambleton (1939-2003)

Lee Hambleton

Year Born: 1939

Year Died: 2003

Year of Induction: 2005

Member of CAB Hall of Fame

Hambleton, Lee (1939-2003)

Lee Hambleton was born in 1939 in Glenboro, Manitoba.  The family moved to Kelso, Saskatchewan, where his father operated a grain elevator, and Lee’s first schooling was at a one-room schoolhouse.  He eventually went on to the  University of Winnipeg, and upon graduation he became store manager for a Safeway grocery store, rising to become the chain’s sales manager for the West.

 A move to Regina brought him into contact with media outlets there, and CKCK-TV soon spotted Lee’s potential, and hired him as their Sales Manager.  Lee quickly immersed himself in the broadcasting industry, making great strides and becoming widely known across Canada.

In 1968, he was lured to CFCF-TV Montreal as Sales Manager.  Lee’s charm and work ethic made him popular in the industry.  This and his untiring efforts to get the job done would mean increased sales at each station for which he would work along the way.

In the early 1980s, CHUM-FM hired him to be Vice President and General Manager of their Montreal stations CHOM-FM and CKGM-AM.  When CHUM sold the FM station, Lee remained to manage CKGM. 

In 2001, CHUM switched a group of its stations to an all sports format and Lee, an avid sports fan, was right in his element.

Lee was deeply involved in community affairs, serving on the Board of Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation and was a McCord Museum trustee. He was also a discerning oenophile, and became President of the Montreal Branch of the International Wine and Food Society and later Chair of the Society worldwide.  He was also active in the Opimian Society (Canada’s own wine society), and was President of the University Club in 2003. He also served on the management board for the Erskine and American Church.

Lee Hambleton died in January 2005.

Posthumously, in 2005, Lee Hambleton was inducted into the CAB Broadcast Hall of Fame.

Written by Ross McCreath – October, 2005